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NEW NOISE

The WA Music Industry Association’s (WAM) recent announcement of the New Noise Collective, an initiative focused on nurturing and growing WA’s all-ages music scene, is a welcome addition to Perth’s music scene. Part of WAM’s audience development strategy, the Collective is led by a small group of passionate young people (aged 16 – 20) and was brought together to develop and implement practical ideas to strengthen WA’s youth music scene, including organising and promoting events that help connect young crowds with emerging WA acts.

They know what they’re doing 🙂

The New Noise Collective kicks off with The Library Sessions, a series of free all-ages live music performances held at the State Library of Western Australia. The first show is on Saturday 6 April, 3:30 pm-5:30pm and features live performances from synth-pop artist Kopano and soulful young blues duo Farraday’s Cage (2018 winners of WAM Song of the Year Schools 14 & Under category).

New Noise Collective member and local musician Georgia Siciliano said of the initiative, “It’s a great opportunity for me to learn more about how the music industry works and to be able to have a say. It will be so good to give people under 18 the chance to see interesting and cool local sounds in different spaces and it’s great to have WAM’s support to be able to do it!”

The New Noise Collective has been established with the support and guidance of WAM’s Audience Development Officer, Em Burrows. Around The Sound got the inside running on the Collective from Burrows.

ATS: The New Noise Collective is about growing and nurturing the all ages music scene in WA. What are the current barriers to the involvement of under age people in making and attending live music? How does the Collective address these?EB: One of the main barriers for all ages music at the moment is running costs for all ages venues. As most venues make their money from the sale of alcohol, running an all ages venue (without bar takings) requires higher ticket sales to break even and is a risky enterprise for venue owners and bands alike. So the lack of venues for bands to perform in has become an issue and subsequently the youth music culture around attending live music has dwindled over the past decade or so. This is one of the reasons why the New Noise Collective has decided to begin by activating different spaces and working with local community and arts orgs to put on gigs. Working with venues like the State Library of WA has the added advantage of bringing music into the public sphere which is always a good thing!

ATS: Can you tell us a bit more about your role in audience development with WAM? Is the New Noise Collective part of a broader strategy?EB: The Audience Development role at WAM is multi-faceted but focuses mostly on youth programs. Part of the role is engaging new audiences with the local music scene (through school performances, all ages gigs etc), part is increasing community participation in local music by providing opportunities for young musicians and aspiring industry personnel to develop their skills (through various workshops in schools and the broader community), and part of it is working with other members of the organisation to develop ways to maintain audience engagement.

The main impetus in starting the New Noise Collective was to engage young people in discussions and decisions around developments in the Perth all ages scene. Their voices are the most important and relevant around this topic and if we can assist them in developing their own skills in relation to running events and being industry savvy then there are positive outcomes all round!

ATS: The first series of events is in the State Library. Is part of the Collective’s strategy about putting all ages shows into venues not usually associated with live music? If so, can you talk about the reasons for this?EB: Ultimately I think it’s important for people to see live music in places other than bars. It doesn’t have to be about alcohol and it’s important for young people to know that! Also, the New Noise Collective members were pretty adamant that they wanted to have gigs with a bit of a relaxed vibe - more chill for punters. I dig it! They know what they’re doing 🙂

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Around The Sound is an online media presence bringing you the best of contemporary music from Western Australia, nationally and internationally. Created and led by Bob Gordon, we bring you excellence in music journalism and unique insights into music-makers, both iconic and newly-minted.
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